Syria

HI operates with numerous partners inside Syria, offering rehabilitation and psychosocial support to people with disabilities or people who have been injured in the violence. The programme also conducts clearance operations and risk education sessions to prevent accidents caused by explosive remnants of war. Additionally, HI continues to bring assistance to the victims of the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023.

Syrian woman of 16, paralized by Homs bombings | © Layla Aerts / Handicap International

Actions in process

HI initially launched its response to the Syrian crisis in neighbouring countries, Lebanon and Jordan, in May 2012, and commenced operations inside Syria in November 2012. Subsequently, HI expanded its operations to include Syrian refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan in the summer of 2014.

Currently, HI provides physical rehabilitation and psychosocial support to people with disabilities or people who have been injured in the violence, including the provision of assistive devices and prosthetic and orthotic services. HI has extended psychosocial support to the caregivers of people with disabilities.

The programme actively promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in humanitarian relief efforts.

It also conducts clearance operations and runs risk education awareness campaigns to prevent accidents caused by explosive remnants of war.

Since the earthquake on February 6, 2023, HI has been providing assistance to victims and their families, focusing on post-surgery rehabilitation care and psychosocial support.

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Situation of the country

Almost 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict, which began in spring 2011, and nearly 13 million have been displaced (internally or abroad). More than 14 million people are still in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria and more than 4.8 million Syrians have taken refuge in neighbouring countries.

With the devastating impact of the pandemic and increasing poverty, every day is an emergency for the Syrians who have been forced to flee. Access to essential services and care, particularly for people with injuries, disabilities or chronic diseases, is very difficult. Obstacles to bringing assistance to Syrian civilians include damage caused to local infrastructure during the fighting, travel restrictions placed on civilians, and the inability of international humanitarian organisations to launch large-scale operations due to the current situation in the field, particularly in terms of access and security.

Date the programme opened: 2012

Number of HI staff members: 358

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